Media Room

Press Kits - Investing - 2008 Fall Investment

Twice as many define success as being debt-free than those who
say it is having enough money for retirement, according to TD
Waterhouse Female Investor Poll

Taking action is the key to feeling financially successful

Westerners are more likely to have a financial plan than
Easterners

TORONTO, Nov. 13 - How do Canadian
women define financial success? According to the 2008 TD Waterhouse
Female Investor Poll, 37% of Canadian women say being debt-free is
the definition of financial success, while only half as many define
financial success as "having enough money for
retirement" (17%). Short-term achievements such as
"having money to buy anything I want" (23%) also
outrank retirement savings as a measure of financial success.

The most common step that women take to reach their
financial goals is to follow a budget to manage their spending
(55%). This compares with only 25% who have sought investment
advice from a professional advisor.

"The fact that most women concentrate on
short-term planning, budgeting and goal-setting is not surprising,
it may be an even more natural response in times of economic
turmoil," says Patricia Lovett-Reid, Senior Vice President,
TD Waterhouse. "While getting your spending under control
is important, it's not enough. Without a long-term investment plan,
we cannot achieve a comfortable, worry-free
retirement."

Over nine in 10 female investors who consider
themselves financially successful are actively engaged in some
action to achieve success. Those women who feel successful are
significantly more likely to take each of the following steps than
those who feel unsuccessful:

Feel Successful

Feel Unsuccessful

Feel Successful

Feel Unsuccessful

Pay off your credit cards in full every month to avoid paying
interest

58%

20%

Contribute regularly to an RRSP

50%

21%

Save/invest through a pre-authorized automatic savings or
investment plan

38%

18%

Seek investment advice from a professional advisor

37%

10%

Contribute the maximum possible amount each year to your
RRSP

16%

3%

Read the financial pages of your newspaper

13%

3%

Follow the stock market

11%

1%

For Lovett-Reid, developing an investment strategy
can go a long way in making women feel more successful about their
finances. "Contrary to what some women might believe,
getting more engaged in the world of investing provides a sense of
empowerment and accomplishment. Burying our heads in the sand does
not."

More Key Findings:

The incidence of women having a formal financial plan declines
from west to east. 31% of BC and Prairies poll respondents have a
financial plan compared with 23% for Ontario, 19% for Quebec, and
18% for Atlantic Canada. The national average is 24%.

As women age, their attention naturally shifts from debt
reduction to consumption. More say they see success in such things
as "having money to buy anything I want or need"
(31% of those aged 56-69 vs. a 23% average for all age categories)
and "having money to travel" (18% of those aged
56-69 vs. 13% average).

More than three-quarters of women (76%) have their own
investment assets, and the average value of their personal
investment portfolios is $73,100.

Nearly one-quarter feel that women are simply more cautious,
careful, or hesitant.

The perception that women are more conservative, less
comfortable investors has consistently dominated women's
perceptions of the difference between male and female investors
since 2005. That said, women are increasingly saying that different
viewpoints and family priorities are what trigger different female
and male investment behaviour.

The national online poll was conducted between
September 18-25, 2008 by TNS Canadian Facts among 1,094 Canadian
women aged 25-69 who have sole or shared responsibility for
household financial planning or investment decisions. It is a
comprehensive annual study of Canadian women's attitudes towards
investing.

About TNS
TNS is one of the world's leading market information groups,
providing market measurement, analysis and insight through its
operating companies in 70 countries. Working with national and
multi-national organizations, we help our clients develop effective
business strategies and enhance relationships with their customers.
In Canada, TNS Canadian Facts provides full-service, primary market
research. Its mission is to become clients' sixth sense of
business(TM) by giving them a deeper understanding of their
customers' behaviour, better anticipation of their actions and
greater insight into what they really want.

About TD Bank Financial
Group
The Toronto-Dominion Bank and its subsidiaries are collectively
known as TD Bank Financial Group. TD Bank Financial Group is the
seventh largest bank in North America by branches and serves
approximately 17 million customers in four key businesses operating
in a number of locations in key financial centres around the globe:
Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, including TD Canada
Trust; Wealth Management, including TD Waterhouse and an investment
in TD Ameritrade; U.S. Personal and Commercial Banking through TD
Banknorth and Commerce Bank (to be known together as TD Bank); and
Wholesale Banking, including TD Securities. TD Bank Financial Group
also ranks among the world's leading on-line financial services
firms, with more than 5.5 million on-line customers. TD Bank
Financial Group had CDN$509 billion in assets as of July 31, 2008.
The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the Toronto and New York Stock
Exchanges under the symbol "TD", as well as on the
Tokyo Stock Exchange.